SC To Hear Karti Chidambaram’s Case

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear the former finance minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram’s case in connection of Aircel-Maxis case.

Earlier on September 14, Karti denied to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, stating that a special court had discharged all the accused and terminated the proceedings in the matter.

The CBI, however, clarified that the investigation in the matter is still underway. Karti wrote to the CBI, stating that as per the notice issued on February 2, 2017, the investigation agency does not have any jurisdiction to issue a summons to him.

The Aircel-Maxis deal refers to a series of allegations of kickbacks in the telecom sector, which was part of the wider 2G scam that engulfed the UPA regime.
Earlier last month, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets, bank accounts and fixed deposits worth Rs. 90 lakh of Karti, in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case.

During investigation the Enforcement Directorate found that Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval given by P. Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case was beyond his mandate.

The law enforcement agency, in its investigation, also found that the amount for FIPB approval was wrongly projected to conceal the facts.

It also found that the company promoted by Karti and P Chidambaram’s nephew allegedly received two lakh dollars from Maxis Group in guise of software consultancy.
The Malaysia-based Maxis Communications group owned by T. Ananda Krishnan.

Earlier in February, Dayanidhi Maran and the others accused in the Aircel-Maxis case were discharged by a special CBI court. According to Swamy, P. Chidambaram withheld the FIPB clearance till the five per cent was paid to Karti.